Microsoft to make “easier, faster” updates starting with Windows 10 version 1809

Arif Bacchus

As noted by Computer World, Microsoft is looking to make monthly Windows updates smaller starting with Windows 10 version 1809. The company first mentioned the upcoming change in a blog post this month and says that they’re aiming for an updated design which “creates a compact update package for easier and faster deployment.”

Specifically, Microsoft engineer Maliha Qureshi explained that— starting with Windows 10 version 1809—the company will be creating an update type which is meant to be smaller in size and easier for IT pros to manage. It has multiple benefits over the current types of Full, Delta, and Express updates, though Microsoft already announced the discontinuation of Delta updates earlier this month.

Keep in mind these changes are for quality Windows Updates (grouped by Microsoft as B, C, and D,) which most usually are released on Patch Tuesday for security and bug related fixes. Microsoft explains the update packages in this new design will come over Windows Update, as .CAB files, and as .MSU files from the Microsoft catalog.

Other benefits of the new update type seen below:

  • Organizations that get full updates from Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or from the Microsoft Update Catalog will seamlessly save network bandwidth thanks to the smaller size of the update.
  • Organizations that have been using delta updates to manage the size of quality updates will no longer have to monitor the update status and history of their devices to determine which devices are eligible for delta updates.
  • Since this new quality update package will be redistributable, organizations that utilize express updates via WSUS, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), or a third-party management solution that supports express updates will experience enormous savings in network bandwidth and cache size on their distribution points or update servers.
  • In addition, devices with the next major version of Windows 10 will be 40% more efficient while updating since there will be no behind-the-scenes computing of the optimal differentials required to download express updates.

This is just the latest change, as Microsoft previously announced that they were also looking to fix Windows Update so your PC would not reboot while you’re busy. All changes are coming beginning with Windows 10 version 1809, so you’ll also expect to see them in the next 19H1 release of Windows 10 as well. You can learn more by checking this Microsoft website.